The American chief of BP told the House Natural Resources Committee that Gulf residents who have had their income interrupted by the oil spill have collected more than $37 million from the oil giant in the five weeks since the explosion.

But while touting its payouts to victims of the oil spill, BP is still engaged in a blame game with its subcontractor, Transocean, which also testified Thursday morning.

Lamar McKay, the president and chairman of BP, said Transocean “was responsible for the safe operation of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig."

McKay also told the panel chaired by Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) that it has paid 13,500 claims.

"Our intent is to be efficient, fair and responsible," he said.

But he also defended the company's presence in the Gulf of Mexico, saying oil is vital to America.

"Tragic as this accident was, we must not lose sight of why BP and other energy companies are operating in the offshore, including the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf provides one in four barrels of oil produced in the United States, a resource our nation requires."

Capitol Hill Thursday is swarming with oil-related testimony as five committees probe the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

The hearings may take a slightly different tenor, as government officials have announced that the "top kill" proceedure meant to stent the flow of oil appears to be working.

When it was his turn to testify, Transocean CEO Steve Newman shifted blame away from his company.

He told the committee that the explosion occurred "after the well construction process was essentially finished. Drilling had been completed on April 17, and the well had been sealed with casing and cement."